Case Studies
See how the Denver Health Lean Academy helps organizations deliver results.
- Eastside Clinic: Coordinated Care for the Generations
Denver’s Oldest Community Health Center Took a Lean Approach to Filling the Gaps in Patient-Centered Care. - Denver Health Appointment Center Transformation
Denver Health Lean Academy principles rapidly transformed the Appointment Center into a high-morale team of leaders and specialists better able to serve the needs and aims of new and returning patients as well as providers. - Lean Academy VSA Creates New Learned Behaviors
A four-day Value Stream Analysis conducted by the Denver Health Lean Academy addressed various needs, improved inefficiencies and associated meaningful metrics to evaluate progress.
- Denver Health’s Lean Approach to Accepting External Referrals
Through a four-day Value Stream Analysis, Denver Health was able to accept external referrals and see business development grow.
- Lean Academy RIE Revamps Confusing Coding Process
The Denver Health Lean Academy improved Patient Safety Indicator accuracy and increased reimbursement revenue through a two-day Rapid Improvement Event (RIE).
Testimonials
- Eastside Clinic Case Study
Anita Roberts, RN, was part of a lean-guided effort to create dyad visits for moms and babies to improve the percentage of moms showing up for their postpartum visits. - Denver Health Patients Front and Center
For Michael Keelan, Denver Health Director of the Appointment Center and Medical Interpretation, transforming the center using the Lean Academy Principles was second nature.
Awards and Recognition
Denver Health Receives 2012 Peak Award
Denver Health was the recipient of the 2012 Peak Award granted by Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence. The Peak Award is described as the regional equivalent of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award, which recognizes organizations that achieve and sustain the highest national levels of patient safety and loyalty; patient outcomes; physician and staff satisfaction; revenue and market share; and community services.
Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence conducted an extensive review of applicants for the Peak Award, including a site visit, where surveyors interviewed patients, employees and volunteers. Denver Health is one of only two organizations in the region to achieve this level of performance.
2011 Shingo Bronze Medallion
In 2011, Denver Health received the Shingo Prize Bronze Medallion for Operational Excellence, becoming the first health care delivery organization to become a recipient. As part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, the mission of The Shingo Prize is to create excellence in organizations through the application of universally-accepted principles of operational excellence and to empower people and transform organizational culture. "The award recipients have proven themselves as leaders in operational excellence and have challenged traditional paradigms to face competitive challenges in today's global economy," Bob Miller, executive director, The Shingo Prize.
2011 UHC Supply Chain Performance Excellence Award
Denver Health, the top performer among participating public hospitals, was presented with the 2011 University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) Supply Chain Performance Excellence award by Jake Groenewold, UHC's senior vice president, Supply Chain, at the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems’ September 2011 Conference in Washington, D.C. The hospital was recognized for excelling in the following five areas: Physician alignment and stewardship; Evidence-based evaluations; Innovative supply chain approaches; Focus on distribution and utilization processes; and Long-term commitment to continuous improvement. The hospital credits their Lean practices for their success in improving Denver Health's supply chain and receiving this award.